The Three Musketeers · Chapter
Captivity: The Second Day explained
Milady, imprisoned, feigns illness and uses religious deception to manipulate Felton, a Puritan officer.
What happens
Milady, imprisoned, feigns illness and uses religious deception to manipulate Felton, a Puritan officer. She pretends to be a fellow Puritan, sings psalms to sway him, and begins to gain psychological advantage over her captors.
Themes in this chapter
Deception and Disguise
Milady feigns illness and adopts a Puritan identity to manipulate her captors.
Love and Betrayal
Milady uses feigned piety and emotional manipulation to betray Felton's trust.
Characters to notice
- Milady de Winter
Feigns illness and adopts a Puritan persona to manipulate Felton.
- John Felton
The Puritan officer guarding Milady; becomes increasingly affected by her performance.
- Lord de Winter
Visits Milady briefly, taunts her, and leaves; unaware of her scheme.
Key passages
“Milady dreamed that she at length had d’Artagnan in her power, that she was present at his execution; and it was the sight of his odious blood, flowing beneath the axe of the headsman, which spread that charming smile upon her lips.”
Milady dreams of having d'Artagnan executed, and the vision of his blood makes her smile.
Reveals Milady's vengeful fantasies and her hatred for d'Artagnan.
“Felton believed he heard the singing of the angel who consoled the three Hebrews in the furnace.”
Felton feels as if he is hearing an angelic song, comparing Milady's singing to the biblical story of the three Hebrews.
Shows Felton's growing emotional and spiritual vulnerability to Milady's manipulation.